Tucked away in Copenhagen’s industrial Refshaleøen district, Alchemist is a dining experience unlike any other. It’s not just a meal but an immersive journey that brings together art, storytelling, and gastronomy into a breathtakingly unique form. A reservation here is like getting a golden ticket to culinary Willy Wonka land… if Willy Wonka was also a philosopher, performance artist, and social activist. Helmed by Rasmus Munk, crowned World’s Best Chef in 2024, Alchemist offers a 50-course, 6-hour sensory journey of taste, sight, sound, and thought. And yes, you read that right: 50 courses.
Eat The Unthinkable At Alchemist, Copenhagen
With two Michelin stars and two consecutive years in the top 10 of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Alchemist is revolutionising the dining experience. The restaurant is renowned for its holistic cuisine and offers a multi-layered, thought-provoking dining experience. Imagine a place where every dish is not just about flavour but also about sparking conversations on global issues like food scarcity, sustainability, and social justice.
The entire evening at Alchemist is structured like a performance, divided into several “acts”. It is an immersive experience where each act combines aspects of art, theatre, and even technology. A 50-course, 6-hour tasting menu might seem overwhelming to some, but it is an experience you should not pass up. Every course is served with a carefully selected beverage, such as non-alcoholic alternatives, wine, or cocktails.
When you arrive, you will enter through two enormous bronze doors that open on their own. This otherworldly space sets the mood for the evening. The experience is designed to take you on a multi-sensory journey. The immersive acts transport you through various settings, from a planetarium-like dome to a room filled with projections of a coral reef or an oversized human heart.
A Dining Experience Unlike Any Other
One of the most talked-about elements of Alchemist is how it uses food to highlight important social issues. In one course, for example, cod is served with “edible plastic,” underscoring the urgent issue of ocean pollution. Another course highlights the issue of child labour on cocoa plantations by showcasing a chocolate bar in the shape of a coffin.
But it’s not all serious; there are also whimsical and playful moments that evoke your inner child, such as enjoying caviar-topped space bread or crunchy oxidised apple juice. You might even find yourself sampling a dish shaped like a human tongue or eating jellyfish in a herbal broth.
Another dish that will stick in your memory is “Burnout Chicken,” which consists of a savoury chicken lollipop attached to a real chicken foot that is kept in a tiny cage. Before they can consume the chicken, diners are urged to release it, which starts a discussion about the morality of industrial farming. The most eerie dish is undoubtedly “Food for Thought,” which serves cherry meringue with lamb’s brain mousse inside a human head mould.
Alchemist is, without a doubt, one of the most exclusive dining experiences in the world. Reservations are released only every few months, and bookings sell out within minutes. So, if you’re ready for a dining experience that will expand your understanding of food, art, and the world around you, Alchemist is calling your name.
Where: Refshalevej 173C, 1432 København K, Denmark
When: 5 pm – 12 am
Cost: ₹DKK 5,400 (67,957.49 approx.)
Cover Image Courtesy: Alchemist/Instagram
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